When
Burma was independent, it was a constitutional democracy; it elected their
own parliament and an independent judiciary. (2) But even after independence, Burma had problems such as, power struggles, mistrust between
leaders, and unhappy minorities.
Because of these problems, people started to protest against U Nu's rule. Moreover, these protests lead to the split between U Nu’s
followers and the AFPFL group in the government. While most people protested for the end of U Nu's rule also, at the same time, the minorities fought for their equality and independence. Which resulted to U Nu asking General Ne Win to set up a temporary
military rule. (1)
Therefore, Ne Win took the role of a caretaker, until everything was
back in order. (6) His actions aided U Nu's effort to become prime minister again. But still, U Nu couldn't control the
political and ethnical disputes. In the end, a military coup overthrew U Nu. (5) Ne Win took over U Nu's position, he got rid of the constitution, and set up
a revolutionary council of military leaders. Ne Win also wanted to make Burma a
socialist country. Therefore, he ruled indirectly by a constitutional dictatorship, and under the name of the revolutionary council (RC). (2) Ne Win hand-picked military officers to form the RC.
Ne Win also formed the Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP). BSPP took strict control of the economy which lead to the crash of the market. He also rejected all foreign aid, and didn't allow tourists to
travel in and out of Burma. He also blocked foreign and national press from informing the public about the government's political decisions. Moreover, he closed down privately owned newspapers and schools, and the government ordered the military force to stop all protests (1) As a result, about 3,000 people were killed by military force
and more then 10,000 students fled into the hills and border areas.
Many Burmese people left
the country entirely. Even Buddhist monks were involved in the protests. The
monks were beaten, arrested, and even disrobed. The Burmese army raided, ransacked, and closed down monasteries. (5) In March 2, 1972, Burma adopted a new
constitution, which created the ideal socialist country and gave Ne Win the title of president. Therefore, Ne Win became less strict on farming, and slowly allowed tourists and neighboring countries to help Burma in difficult situations. Burma’s developmental failure was because of poor
planning and management. The Burmese government gave the minorities a mini independence after the constitution. But still, the government required them to pay for funds by selling timber, gems, and minerals. Soon riots and protests arose because there wasn't any more rice or money remaining. (2)
But on the other hand, Ne Win experimented with free trade, so he devalued the currency, as a result people lose their
whole life saving. During the next vote, the ruler changed from Ne Win to Gen
Sein Lwin who also used military force to stop protests. (2) In August
1988, there was the 8888 Uprising, where the open fire on protestors killed
thousands of people. (6) The government arrested the leader of the protests, Aung San Suu Kyi also the
leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the daughter of the
nearly prime minister Aung San. (1) The government kept Aung San Suu Kyi in prison for 6 months to 4
years in different time intervals.
In May 1990, there was a change
in countries name, and the capital, from Union of Burma to Union of
Myanmar and from Rangoon to Yangon. (2) During the next election, Aung San Suu
Kyi won the election by 392 out of 485, but she didn't get to become president, instead the government arrested her again. (6) In addition, Aung San Suu Kyi received a Nobel
peace prize, but the Burmese government didn't allow her to get the prize. (1)
In 2001, the ruler changed again from Gen Khint Nyunt to Gen Soe Win. There
is an increase in tourists that visit Burma, and more than 1 million
Chinese immigrate to Myanmar. (3) Than Shwe becomes the leading general, but at the same time, the UN got involved in helping the poor Burmese citizens. (8) But still Burma had a low economy, and the government formed wars between them and the ethnic groups. By 2005, there was more foreign aid, and by 2007, Burma formed ties with China, Russia, North Korea.(7)
Then Cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy Delta destroying entire villages and causing 138,000 to die or go missing. But the UN disagreed and said that there were about 2.4 million people affected.(6) In, September 2007, Aung San Suu Kyi has her first sighting. In 2008, ethnic minorities still fought for more land and freedom, and there was a change of capital and
national anthem, from Yangon to Naw Pyi Daw. (7)
Monday, March 5, 2012
Finally Full Independence !!!
Finally, Burma won full independence from both Britain and Japan on January 4, 1948. (1)
With the independence, came a new name for Burma. Burma was renamed the Union of Burma. (2)
The Road to Independence
Even
though there were lots of improvement during British rule, the college
students in Burma, wanted Burma to be independent. Accordingly, the college students commenced a
protest to have a part in the government. (6) These small protests didn’t
really make any change, but then Buddhist monks decided to be involved in the
protest, because Burma was a Buddhist country. But the protest was still unsuccessful. Sooner or Later, two student leaders,Thakin
Nu and Thakin Aung San organized a student strike. After years of protest, in
1937, The British separated Burma from India, and was acknowledged as a separate
nation, and the British gave Burma partial government power. But, some
people thought that these changes weren't enough, so the fight for independence continued.
Hence Aung San and 29 other nationalists, known as the 30 comrades joined Japan in driving the British out. (5) The thirty comrades traveled to Japan to receive military training and to gain Japanese support. (6) Burma received aid from Japan, and was finally able to drive out the British. But before leaving, the British destroyed tons of oil fields, railways, rice paddies, and other economic resources. (2) In 1943, Burma received independence from Britain, but Burma was now under Japanese rule. Burma hated Japanese rule more than the British rule, because there was less freedom. Thus the Burmese people formed the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) which was led by Aung San. With this league, and the help of Britain, Burma was able to defeat Japan. Aung San was elected as prime minister to lead Burma but he was assassinated, and so his assistant U Nu received the position instead. (1) Aung San was assassinated at age 32, which made Burma worry, because they had now lost their most trusted leader among all the experienced political leaders. (6)
Hence Aung San and 29 other nationalists, known as the 30 comrades joined Japan in driving the British out. (5) The thirty comrades traveled to Japan to receive military training and to gain Japanese support. (6) Burma received aid from Japan, and was finally able to drive out the British. But before leaving, the British destroyed tons of oil fields, railways, rice paddies, and other economic resources. (2) In 1943, Burma received independence from Britain, but Burma was now under Japanese rule. Burma hated Japanese rule more than the British rule, because there was less freedom. Thus the Burmese people formed the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) which was led by Aung San. With this league, and the help of Britain, Burma was able to defeat Japan. Aung San was elected as prime minister to lead Burma but he was assassinated, and so his assistant U Nu received the position instead. (1) Aung San was assassinated at age 32, which made Burma worry, because they had now lost their most trusted leader among all the experienced political leaders. (6)
Friday, March 2, 2012
Colonial Experience
During the British Rule,
the British split the Burma into 2 regions, the Ministerial Burma which is the upper
area, and the frontier area which are the lower area. (6) There was a
lot of changes, including the stop of monarchy and monk hood, which were the most shocking changes during the colonial period. Monarchy and monk hood were important because they were the pillars in Burmese life. After the British colonized Burma, the British acted as the judge and jury to all matters. The British soldiers would be excused if they carried out huge executions and other bad deed. The British also founded schools that taught in both English
and Burmese.The British also encouraged Christian missionaries to help the poor families
by giving them financial assistance. Since
these families were using the British money, the poor families were forced to send their children to
the Christian schools. (3) The British did not treat the Burmese harshly unless the Burmese did not grow rice crops for money, then the British would starve that family.
But a positive factor from British conquering, is that the Burmese market and population grew tremendously. (1) The British used Burma’s vast oil and mineral resources to trade with other countries. (6) Also, the British found that rice from Burma was a good export product, and so this decision led to the increase of rice paddies. Also selling the rice helped Burma to receive more money. But even with these advances, Burma was still in a huge debt and had to borrow money from India. When the British arrived, horse carts, cow carts, and walking were the only transportation. Therefore, the British built a railway, a train, a steamboat, and in result, the transportation and economy developed quickly. But these new ways of transportation did not aid Burmese people to get to places faster, because only British people were allowed to ride the train or boat. (3) In the long run, the British didn't have any influence in Burma, other than the name of the roads, which are all British names.
But a positive factor from British conquering, is that the Burmese market and population grew tremendously. (1) The British used Burma’s vast oil and mineral resources to trade with other countries. (6) Also, the British found that rice from Burma was a good export product, and so this decision led to the increase of rice paddies. Also selling the rice helped Burma to receive more money. But even with these advances, Burma was still in a huge debt and had to borrow money from India. When the British arrived, horse carts, cow carts, and walking were the only transportation. Therefore, the British built a railway, a train, a steamboat, and in result, the transportation and economy developed quickly. But these new ways of transportation did not aid Burmese people to get to places faster, because only British people were allowed to ride the train or boat. (3) In the long run, the British didn't have any influence in Burma, other than the name of the roads, which are all British names.
Conquest
There was foreign
arrival even before 1752, for example the Arabs, or the Portuguese who were
active in the trade from Burma to other countries. Through their visits, the
British, French, and the Dutch, formed trading companies in Burma. The last Burmese King
was Alaungpaya he ruled the Konbaung dynasty. (1) He ruled from 1752 to 1760, and he was known as a powerful ruler because he had defeated the Mons,
the Arakanese, the Assam, Manipur and Siam. (2)
In 1824, the British first arrived in Burma. The Burmese people resisted British rule, and didn’t allow them to take the raw materials.Thus, leading to three wars against Burma and the British. The First War was during 1824 to 1826. This war did not end well for the Burmese. Therefore, Burma signed a treaty with the British. The second war was in 1852. When the Burmese lost again, the Burmese had to give over lower Burma to the British. (2) Along with lower Burma, the British took Mandalay the capital. The British also decided that Burma should be a part of the Indian Colony. Then there was the third war during 1885. When Burma lost again, Burma became a separate province from India. But Burma was respected and was known as the crown colony. (7) When the British conquered all of Burma, the royal family was exiled to India.
In 1824, the British first arrived in Burma. The Burmese people resisted British rule, and didn’t allow them to take the raw materials.Thus, leading to three wars against Burma and the British. The First War was during 1824 to 1826. This war did not end well for the Burmese. Therefore, Burma signed a treaty with the British. The second war was in 1852. When the Burmese lost again, the Burmese had to give over lower Burma to the British. (2) Along with lower Burma, the British took Mandalay the capital. The British also decided that Burma should be a part of the Indian Colony. Then there was the third war during 1885. When Burma lost again, Burma became a separate province from India. But Burma was respected and was known as the crown colony. (7) When the British conquered all of Burma, the royal family was exiled to India.
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